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Back in 1996, Robin Williams made a movie called The Birdcage, in which he played a gay father. That's apparently a little too tolerant for the folks of the Westboro Baptist Church, who the Telegraph reports have now announced plans to picket the comedian's funeral, apparently "To Warn The Living: Repent Or Likewise Perish." Details of Williams' funeral, which will reportedly be very small and very private, haven't yet been announced. But WBC's announcement is already getting some reaction from its neighbors at Planting Peace, notes the Advocate: The group is inviting people to counteract "the WBC's message of hate through a fundraising event benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a cause Mr. Williams passionately and publicly supported." The Remembering Robin campaign had a goal of $30,000; it is currently just north of $40,000.

With all the hate that Westboro gets, I'm always surprised that no one has done something crazy like having staged a mock-funeral in order to drag the picketers out for their own beat downs or deaths... Not suggesting or recommending this retaliation, of course. Just surprised this group continues with little more than some verbal backlash.

K.C.

Aug 18, 2014 5:07 PM CDT

So many people do not understand the power of the cultural, governmental and entertainment media in these modern times. What they tell us is so subtly embedded in our culture, that we don't even realize it. Now anyone with half a brain can see that especially, the news and entertainment media constantly preach to us that homosexuality is good. When Christians encounter this, we have to recognize it and tell others what is what, but not be so naive as to agitate with protests which assume people will agree with us. It's called being "in the world but not of it" and it is too bad so many nominal Christians have convinced the real ones about issues like this. It's one thing to have a child-like faith, but at some point the real Christian must become mature and see that to assume makes an a-s-s out of u-n-me.

CopTurnedJournalist

Aug 18, 2014 4:58 PM CDT

When I was a reported in DC, I was assigned to interview Fred Phelps, the leader of that faux-Christian political organization. He is truly one of the most vile human beings I've ever had the displeasure to occupy the same planet with ... and I'm including everyone I ever arrested while I was a full-time cop in that list, too. Apparently, Phelps missed this passage in the Bible: "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." James 3:1 ESV